Too much talk about Corby<\/p>\n
Let us imagine a young Indonesian woman is on trial in an
\nAustralian court. If guilty, she will be sentenced to life in
\nprison. Her case touches the fears of many Indonesians about
\nAustralia, its attitudes and court practices. Will she get a fair
\ntrial? What if the Australian justice system, so alien to
\nIndonesians, is corrupt? Indonesian public opinion is strongly
\nbehind the young woman. The country's leaders feel they must take
\na public stand and starting with the president, begin none-too-
\nsubtle heavying of the Australian judge. Imagine this possibility
\nand ask: How would Australians react?<\/p>\n
They would be insulted and angry -- no, outraged. They would
\ndecry any foreign attempt to influence the court. The judge would
\nbe praised for rejecting out of hand any arguments adduced in
\nthis blundering way, and for keeping to due process. Yet change
\nthe details, and this is precisely what Australian politicians
\nare doing in the Schapelle Corby case.<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister, John Howard, says he has not prejudged
\nthe case, and he understands that Australians would be angered if
\nthe roles were reversed. But he has given the lie to both
\nassertions by consenting to a letter from the Attorney-General to
\nCorby's judges which mentions that police are investigating
\nairport baggage handlers over allegations of drug trafficking.
\nThe Opposition Leader, Kim Beazley, has gone further, saying he
\nfeels for Corby, and hopes the verdict will be \"true and fair and
\nright and just\". His words seemed so close to a declaration of
\nher innocence that he later had to deny he had made one.<\/p>\n
Part of Indonesia's democratization, which has been
\nproceeding, despite setbacks, since the downfall of Soeharto in
\n1998, is the establishment of independent courts and the
\nappointment of impartial judges.<\/p>\n
In making their public pronouncements on the case, Mr Howard
\nand Mr Beazley are pandering to Australian public opinion which
\nhas been pained by the nightly footage of Corby's obvious
\ndistress and is asking why politicians are doing nothing to save
\nher.
\n-- The Sydney Morning Herald<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/too-much-talk-about-corby-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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